An Introduction to Chinese Culture

P28--Task 5 1, Let the ruler be a ruler and the subject a subject. 君君臣臣。 2，Virtuous man seeks principle but not food;Virtuous man worries about principle but not poverty. 君子谋道不谋食，君子忧道不忧,贫。 3，The superior man is satisfied and composed;the mean man is always full of distress. 君子坦荡荡，小人常戚戚。 4，If every one in the world will love universally;states not attacking one another;bouses not disturbing one another;thieves and robbers becoming extinct;emperor and ministers,fathers and sons,all being affectionate and filial--if all this comes to pass the world will be orderly. 若使天下兼相爱，国与国不相攻，家与家不相乱，盗贼无有，君臣父子皆能孝慈，若此，则天下治。 5, This tree,because its wood is good for nothing,will succeed in living out its natural term of years. 此木以不材得终其天年。 6, Being in harmony with men is called the joy of men;being inharmony with Heaven is called the joy of Heaven. 与人和者谓之人乐，与天和者，谓之天乐。 7，The highest excellence is like (that of) water. 上善若水。 P65--Task 2 1,Is it not a pleasure,having learned something,to try it out at due intervals? 学而时习之，不亦说乎？ 2,Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? 有朋至远方来不亦说乎？ 3,To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not; that is knowledge. 知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。 4,Whenever walking in a company of three,I can always find my teacher among them. 三人行，必有我师焉。 5,A man who does not drink and plan long ahead will find trouble right by his door, 人无远虑，必有近忧。 6,At fifteen,I began to be seriously interested in study,At thirty, I had formed my character.At forty,I had no more perplexities.At fifty,...At sixty...At seventy... 吾十有五而志於学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。 7,A youth is to be regarded with respect./We should hold the young in awe. 后生可畏。 8,Rotten wood cannot be carved. 朽木不可雕也。 9,When I hear a man talk,I reserve my judgment until I see how he acts./Having listened to a man’s words I go on to observe his deeds. 听其言而观其行。 10,He was of an active nature and yet fond of learning,and he was not ashamed to ask and learn of his inferiors. 敏而好学，不耻下问。 11,In teaching there should be no distinction of classes. 有教无类。 12,Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another. 道不同不相为谋。 13,The lack of self-restraint in small matters will bring ruin to great plans./A man who can not put up with small loses or disadvantages will often spoil a big plan. 小不忍者乱大谋。 14,I do not know a man without truthfulness is to get on./I do not see how a man can be acceptable who is untrustworthy in word? 人而无信，不可知其也。 15,To learn continually and to teach other people unceasingly. 学而不厌，诲人不倦。 课文里的句子：P61 11，13；P62 15，16；P63 19，20 ；P64 Task 1 Chinese culture Section 1 Some Traits of Chinese Culture 一．What are the influences of China’s natural barriers on Chinese culture? It allows a vast living space for large numbers of tribes to survive, to move and to intermingle in the north and south of China. It nurtures a continental culture looking inward, a farming culture bent on soil, discouraging the emergence of an adventurous sea-faring people. The natural barriers within the vast territories block easy communication to help create cultures, subcultures and unintelligent dialects. The relative isolation encourages the maintenance of uniqueness. The vast areas of living space allow plenty of leeway for mobility and intermingling of tribes and peoples in China proper. The variety of terrain and climate is conducive to the flourishing of regional cultures. This human habitat is too congenial to produce an outward-looking, adventurous, sea-faring culture. This self-contained and self-sufficient farming culture brews satisfaction and conservatism. With the size approximately the same as Europe, China’s arable land constitutes only a small percent of the latter, which results in a dense population on limited farmland. 二．What is the traditional worldview of Chinese people? They had a sensible perspective of nature and society and coped with reality with a sober mind. They mostly believed in pragmatism, though professed a religion occasionally to avert calamities and pray for blessings. Half-hearted about the otherworldliness and Faramita preached by the religion. 三． 四． 五． Section 2 The Hundred Schools of Thought ★一.Can you describe “Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought” in your own words? “Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought” refers to an era of great culture and intellectual expansion in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period in Chinese history. It’s a period in which a broad range of thoughts and ideas were developed and discussed freely. What are the major schools of thought during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period? 三．Comparison and contrast between Confucianism and Taoism. The focus of Taoism is on the individual within the natural realm rather than the individual within society. The philosophical core for Confucianism is the fundamental system of modeled behavior. Section 3 Harmony ---- The Fundamental Spirit of Chinese Culture 一．What is “harmony” in traditional Chinese philosophy? While "Harmony of Man with Nature" and "Peace Enjoys Priority" are the philosophies and ideals of the Chinese people since ancient times in their pursuit of the harmony between Man and Nature and the harmony among people, building up a harmonious society and achieving harmonious development are the dream and aspirations of the Chinese.To Chinese people, harmony is a powerful word. There is nothing it cannot absorb and nothing it cannot cover. Harmony seeks peace, compromise, concord( 一 致 ), and unison(调和). Harmony in the area of administration, interpersonal relations, politics, economy, diplomacy, and relations between Man and Nature. What do Yin and Yang represent respectively? The yin and yang represent all the opposite principles one finds in the universe. While "yin" would be dark, passive, downward, cold, contracting, and weak, "yang" would be bright, active, upward, hot, expanding, and strong. / Under yang are the principles of maleness, the sun, creation, heat, light, Heaven, dominance, and so on, and under yin are the principles of femaleness, the moon, completion, cold, darkness, material forms, submission, and so on. What are the Five Elements? Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Section 4 Traditional Ethics and Ten Aspects of Righteousness ★一. What is the highest ethical code set by Confucius? What does it cover in a broader sense? Benevolence. In a broader sense “benevolence” covered respect, generosity, trustworthiness, kindness, intelligence, wisdom, courage, loyalty, consideration and filialness. What are the five constant virtues stressed by Confucianism as basic ethical codes? Confucianism stressed five constant virtues, namely benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), propriety (li), wisdom (zhi) and fidelity (xin) as basic ethical codes. ★三.What do the ten aspects of righteousness refer to? The ten aspects of righteousness meant that “Father should be loving and son filial; the elder brother should be good and the younger respectful; the husband should be righteous and wife obedient; the senior should be kind and the junior humble; the monarch should be benevolent and the officials loyal, which stressed the mutual rights and obligations of the ten parties”. Section 5 Chinese Festivals and Customs What are the five major Chinese festivals? Spring Festival (1st day of the first lunar month) Mid-autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month) Qingming Festival (nearly 5th day of the fourth lunar month) Dragon Boat Festival (5th day of the fifth lunar month) The Double Ninth Festival (the 9th day of the ninth lunar month) Can you give some examples of similarities and the differences between Spring Festival and the Christmas Day, the Qingming Festival and the Halloween? The Spring Festival and Christmas have much in common. Both are prepared beforehand to create a joyous atmosphere; both offer a family reunion with a square feast; and both satisfy the children with new clothes, overly presents and delicious food. However, the Chinese Spring festival has no religious background while Christmas has something to do with God and there is Santa Claus with white beard to bring children presents. The westerners send each other Christmas cards for greetings while the Chinese people pay a call on each other. Section 6 Culinary Delights in China ★一.What are the characteristics of Chinese cuisine? Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating from regions of China. The history of Chinese cuisine stretches back for many centuries and produced changes from period to period and in each region according to regional climate, imperial fashions, and local preferences. Name some traditional Fujian (Min) cuisines. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall 佛跳墙 Oyster omelette 蚵仔煎 Stuffed fish balls 包心鱼丸 Red yeast chicken 红糟鸡 Fragrant snails in wine 淡糟香螺片 Meat strips with green pepper 青椒肉丝 Drunken ribs 醉排骨 Yanpi 燕皮 Misua 面线 Western Culture Section 8 Ancient Greek Culture